The Southland Times.Cjic Cimes. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 616, 9 January 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times.Cjic Cimes. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1867.

The extracts we have from time to time published from the leading Provincial journals, under the head of the " Spirit of the Press " should, unquestionably, have led men to ponder over the great questions that will demand the consideration of the General Assembly when it again meets. The question of Separation must be settled, notwithstanding that it is one of those difficult subjects that few can grasp, unless they make it a study. It must be patent to even the most superficial pretender to political science, that the existing system cannot last. Each succeeding session of the Assembly eventuates in increased taxation and intensified complications. The selfseeking instincts of the shark-like politicians ofthe North has not been destroyed, and the Wellington-czm-Nelson brotherhood is becomiog more and more affectionate. In short, the South Island is drifting, with electric rapidity into the nool of despond. Why is this ? There is no unanimity of feeling among the colonists. Provincial shortsightedness appears to have trodden out all the large views that Britishers boast of possessing. With calm complacency ; they strain at ■i gnat and swallow a camel. To take Southland as an illustration. The desire to decrease the salary of an underpaid rovernment official is the " pivot" of the j creed of our Provincial reformers. The Stamp Act, the increased Tariff, the heap ii fresh taxation of every imaginable de-«-ription, that is session after session ol he Assembly, being heaped up, is borne .vith n easy indifference that Spartan forbearancecouldscarcelypassover. Yet they remain content to allow the G« n ral Government to toy with their best interests, md if they can only be permitted to ponr Dut the vials of their wrath on local individuals they are content. Some time since we i i nected attention to the agitations that were going on in the various Provinces upon the great question of the Reform in a system of Grovernments, showing how Province was. pitted against Province, ia the Middle

I*l nd. and suggested the desirability of a Conference of the South Island membora to debate the subject. Otagu acknowledged the propriety of the scheme. Canterbury endorsed the suggestion, still nothing has been done. Otago has its political organisation, nnd th-it Association with all its Provincial tendencies solicits a free and impurti tl discussion. In this Province petty politicians have tried to imitate Otago, •^nd a Southland Association has been formed. What are the objects sought to be obtained by this trumpet tongued craft ! Does it desire to initiate machinery tliat will prove powerful to redress the wrongs that are multiplying with mushroom growth, or is it simply the erection of a platform for stage-struck heroes to play fantastic tricks. It is scarcely possible to approach this subject with seriousness. What is the Southland Association, what is its objects, and what is its creed ? AYe must plead ignorance. | If it is for the purpose of bringing about a thorough reform in the system of G-o---vernment, it has a mission of serious moment, but if its aim and objects are, " hear-myself-speak gatherings," it will prove a positive evil. The question of Separation is day by day becoming more important, taxation becoming heavier, and the Provincial funds swallowed 1 p to satisfy General Government extrav; J gance, and the colony is drifting into the gulf of ruin. Why is this ? The answer ia simple. Th^Provincial system has worked the evil, and so long as it exists so long will New Zejland be missoT rned. The Middle Island colonists are now called upon to act as one man. Will they do so ? Otago and Canterbury are one as to the desirability of all the Southern Provinces joining in sending representatives to a Conference for the purpose of deliberating upon the Beforms in the system of Government most desirable — the most likely to advance the interests of all. Will this Province do its part? Hitherto Southland has not been remarkable for its political activity or reform conceptions. The people have complacently taken taxation after taxation with amiable indifference, and returned as representatives men who either did not realize a necessity for a Beform in the General Government, or others that believed a change desirable, but as to what that change should be had no defined views. Under such circumstances it is not surprising that Southland should be snubbed and neglected — that the General Government sh-mld treat it with neglect, and the other Provinces pay but little attention to its opinions. We maintain that this Province is a power, that it possesses the elements of greatness, and if the people are true to themselves, it •mist bf- felt There are signs of political activity, b't it be well directed, and miK-h good nmy result. Aga>n we affirm Miatifthe Southland agitators honestly iesire a Beform ofthe Government, they mnst cease the cheese-paring cry, and -frike at the root of the evil. Separation — Binanci <] — with a Federation is the goal to which all true reformers should look.

The monthly meeting of the Committee of tho Chamber of Commerce will be held on Wednesday (this dav) at 3 o'clock. At a meeting of the Waste Land Board, held yesterday, the Bth January, the following block was Bold : — Waimumu district, Mr Davies, 926 acres. The following is the state of H.M's Gaol for the week ending Tuesday, the Bth inst : — Sentenced to penal servitude, 5 males ; to hard labor 4 males and 2 females ; debtors, 2 males ; committed for trial, 1. Total, 12 males and 2 females. Received during the week, 1 male. Discharged during the week, 2 males. Decrease for the week, 1 male. The following extraordinary report appears in the Bendigo Advertiser of the 16th ult : — "The yield of gold on this field is never accurately known. It has oozed out, however, that a third reef has been cut in the claim of Messrs Ballerstedt, in which the quartz is literally bound together with gold — not thin threads of it but thick ropes of gold — while scattered irregularly through the stone .are lumps of the precious metal. The sight is said to be astonishing. It appears that the weekly yield varies from 800 ozs to 1000 ozs. If we remember right, Mr Ballerstedt, who is one of our oldest reefers made a statement at one time that he did not intend to cease mining nntd h^ had got a ton of gold. There is every probability from the appearance of the lode in the mine of the desire of his heart being realised." The following notice appears in the General Government Gazette : — " Persons desirous of becoming Licensed Distributors of Duty Stamps are requested to make application in writing to the Honorable the Commissioner of Customs, Stamp-office, Wellington, Btating Christian and Surname, place of business, or residence, or post town. Distributors will be allowed two and ahalf per cent on all purchases of adhesive stamps of the aggregate amount of five pounds and upwards. Applications to purchase stamps sliould hi made at the Stamp-office of the province (the office of the Registrar of Deeds), by requisition, forms of which can he obtained at the several Stamp-offices, and at all Money Order-offices in the out-districts of the Colony." The Daily Times, lst January, in a leading article upon the New Year, has the following paragraph : — " Otago enters upon the year with fair prospects. The uncertainty which for years pa-it hus hung over its land laws is at last concluded. The new band Act is meant to be a permanent measure ; and even those who do not appr jvc of it mu-t rejoice to'* think that there is a -ettlement of a question which," on account of th undecided condition in wliich ie was left, occasioned a want of confidence and of stabifity hurtful to every interest in the Province. At least, the new Land Act is liberal. The agricul tunsls bave the prospect of getting land at ten shil.ings an acre ; the pastoral occupants have renewed leases open to them ; and tbe miners are alloweJ the opportunity of securing the f xirest spots in the interior at moderate rentals and upon i avorable terms. Much will depend upon the way in which the new Act is worked. It is to be hoped no pains will be spared to make tka beat use of it,"

Thp Argus says that a let'er from Batavi , dated thp 17th ult., remarks as follow* : — " The telnirraph onble hetw-pn Anjer ( c t>-ait« of Sunda** and Te ok Betong, s^nth const of Sumatra, h* c been sucppssfnlly Inid. Within a fpw month 9 b nee we will have fplpgranbie commnnic -ticv r rom T> aTl jnewangie. tbe ea«tprnmost por f in Java to dnjpr, the wpsf-prmost port in tbe island. cro«Sng tbe Straits of Snnda to T.-lok Rptnng, th*n<v to Palembnni;. a port on the enst const of Sumatra. By this moans we shall be approachin? Singapore.', The township at Fox's ~River, in "Nelson Province, has bepn officiary designated Brighton. A newspapei has already been established there, named tho Brighton Times. Referring to the prospects of the district, the Grey Ri^er Argus says : — " Our latest advices from "Fox's are to tbe efiect that business in every branch is very much overdone, and thnt unless an unlonked for change takes place a seriou9 decMne in tbe prices of almost every artiplp of consumption is likely to occur. The news from the diggings is on tbe wh«le favorable so far as it goes, but it is an undoubted fact that there is a much larger ponulition than can find profitable employment. We feel justified in saving that the rush of men has already reached dimensions considerably exceeding the mpans of support, and that if it should continue it can j only be attended with disastrous results to many. ' "An illustration of the ups and downs of mining affairs," says the Woose Point Mountaineer, " came under our notice on Saturday last, by the disposal of the Champion Claim, Black River, for the sum of £20, sold by Mr Blvthman, tbe bail-'ff, on a judgment obtainad by Mr Vincent a short time ago. About this timo twelve months ago there was a ready sale for the shares in this company (2000) at £15 each, some were sold higher. Sergeant Power was offered , £3000 for 200 Bhares, which he refused. Now mark tbe change — the whole claim sold for £20. Mr Perkins was the purchaser, and no doubt will make a very handsome profit by tbe transaction Those who know the claim say that there is plenty of gold in it. We have seen numerous specimens of very rich stone from the reef, and that there is still payable gold in it we have not the slightest doubt whatever. We should not be surprised to see Mr Perkins make a fortune by this investment of £20." We take the following from the Lake Wakatip Mail, Jan. 2nd 1867 : — " We learn, upon god authority, that his Excellpncy Sir George Grey will be present at the Christchurch Races on thp 16th and 17th instant. He will afrerwards travel overland to Oamaru, and thence, via the Lindis Pass, to Cardrona, Arrow, and Queenstown. It is also stated that, on leaving here, he will proceed to Invercargill by way of "Kingston. According to this arrar pern pnt the Wakatip will be the only G Id fields district honored by a visit, and hi* Fxcellency thus sepms to have kindly borne in mini the invitation of the A ccVmatisation Society Sir G. orge may be expected here at the end ot this month, and we hope be will, as h'-r Majesty'? representati c. receive a hearty reception from th inhabitants in th- Lake distric."